Movable tracker for mechanical musical instruments.



Noa29,1ae. PATENTED AUG. 21, 1906. E. s. VGTEY.

MOVABLE TRAGKER FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1. 1905. Q

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

,No. 829.186. PATENTED AUG. 21, 1906. B. S. VOTE-Y.

MOVABLE TRACKER FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED DEG. 1. 1905.

Attest: Inventor: Q, g (9151M fame a. m

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN s. VOTEYQOF SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR (IQflHE AEOLIAN I COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF OONNEOPIOUT.

MOVABLE TRACKER FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

To all whom it may concer n:

Be it known that I, EDWIN S. VOTEY, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Summit, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and consists of means to this end and of'combinations of parts, which will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of so much of a grand piano as is neces-' sary to illustrate my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the line -2 2, Fig. 1.

1 designates the bottom of a piano, above which are mounted keys 2', which keys together constitute the keyboard of the instrument. The mechanism by which these operate on the strings 3 is not shown, as it forms no partof the present invention. Pivotally mounted on a stationary part 1- of the piano is a bracket 5, to the free ends of the cheeks 6 of which is secured. a depending frame 7, within which is supported a musicsheet-winding roll 8, commonly known as a take-up roll, a tracker 9, and shafts 10 and 11, which shafts together constitute a music-roll support, the shaft 10 being provided with means for engaging the driving end of a music-roll (not shown) and the shaft 1 1 being provided with means for engaging. a

pin at the left end of the roll. The support 7 also carries suitable mechanism (designated as 12) for communicating motion from the shaft 13, which is in the axial line of the bracket 6, to rotate'the winding or take-up roll 8, as well as to turn the shaft 10, by which the music-sheet is rewound on the mu sic-roll (not shown) after pl'aying- As this driving. mechanism for the winding-roll and the music-roll shaft are both well known and form no part of the present invention it is Specification of Letters Patent. A lication fild December 1,1905. Serial No; 289,759-

Patented Aug. 21, 1906.

unnecessary to elaborately illustrate or care fully explain them.

It will be seen that the bracket 5 has a ivotal motion of approximately one hun red and eighty degrees, so that in its forward position it extends over the manual keys of the keyboard 2, and that the depending portion 7 has a pivotal motion of approximately ninety degrees on. the bracket 5, so that it may in its operative position depend over the keys, so as to bring the tracker into convenient position for the operator, and may in its non-operative position be extended, with the bracket 5, rearwardly, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, to a position which in the present instance is above the forward ends of the strings 3.

It 1s of course evident that the ducts 14 in the tracker 9 are connected by flexible connections 15 to the pneumatic action, (not shown,) the connections 15 in the present construction extending downwardly through the keyboard 2 and bottom 1 of the piano.

While I have shown the device as applied to a grand piano, it is clear that it is applicable, with only. mechanical changes, .to other forms of keyboard musical instruments.

What I claim is 1. In musical apparatus, a keyboard and a tracker adjustably supported to move from an operative position above said keyboard to a non-operative position above said key board and above and behind its operative position, and flexible. pneumatic connections leading from'said tracker for controlling the playing mechanism.

2. In musical apparatus, a keyboard, and a tracker and a music-sheet-winding roll adjustably supported-to move from an opera tive position above said keyboard to a nonoperative position above said keyboard and above and behind their operative position, and flexible pneumatic connections leading from said tracker for controlling the. playing mechanism.

3. In musical apparatus, a keyboard, and a tracker, a rnusic-sheet-winding roll and a music-roll support adjustably supported to move from an operative position above said keyboard to a non-operative position above said keyboard and above and behind their operative position, and flexible pneumatic connections leading. from said tracker for controlling the playingmechanism.

board to move from'an operative 4. In musical apparatus, a keyboard, a tracker pivotally mounted above said keyosition 'fabove and adjacent to the front en of said keyboard upwardly and rearwardly to a nonally mounted above said keyboard. to move from an. operative position above and adjacent to the front end of said keyboard upwardly and rearwardly to anon-operative I osition, and flexible pneumatic connections eading from said tracker for controlling the playing mechanism.

6..;Inmusical a paratus, a keyboard, a tracker, a niusic-siieet-winding roll and a music-roll support pivotally mounted above -said keyboard to move from an operative position above and. adjacent to the front end of said keyboard upwardly and rearwardly to a non-operative position, and flexible pneu.

matic connections leading from said tracker for controlling the playing mechanism.

7. In musical apparatus, a keyboard, a tracker and a'inusic-sheet-winding roll adjustably supported to move from an opera tive position above said keyboard to a nonoperative position above said keyboard and 'above and behind their operative position, means for rotating said Winding-roll connected thereto independently of itsposition, and flexible pneumatic connections leading from said tracker for controlling the playing mechanism.,

'8. In musical apparatus, a keyboard, a niusicsheet-winding roll, a tracker and a musid-roll sup ort adjustably supported to move integra ly from operative position.

above, said keyboard to non-operative positionabove and behind their operative position, a driving-shaft in said music-roll support, means for rotating said winding-roll and said driving shait connected to each of them independently of tlieirp osition, and flexible pneumatic connections leading from said tracker for controlling the playing mechanism.

9, In a piano, manual keys, horizontallydis osed strings, and a music-sheet-winding 'roli adjustably supported to move ironic-an operative position above ,and adjacent to said keys'to a non-operative position above and adjacent to said strings.

10. I a piano, manual keys, horizontally- ,dis osed strings, a music-sheet-winding roll an a tracker supported for integral movement from operative position above and adj acent to said keys to non-operative.position above and adjacent to the said strings, and flexible pneumatic connections leading from said tracker for controlling the playing mechanism.

11. In a piano, manual keys, horizontallydisposed strings, a music-sheot-winding roll, a tracker and a music-roll support supported for integral movement from operative position above and adjacent to said keys to nonoperative position above and adjacent to the said strings, and flexible pneumatic connections leading from said tracker for controlling the playing mechanism.

12. In a piano, manual keys, a casing, a bracket pivoted on said casing above said keys and so as to swing forwardly thereover, a music-sheet-winding roll and a tracker pivoted on said bracket so as to swing from operative depending position above said keys upwardly and rearwardly-to non-operative position, and flexible pneumatic connections leading from said tracker for controlling the playing mechanism.

13. In a piano, manual keys, a casing, a bracket pivoted on. said casing above said keys for movement in an arc of approximately one hundred and eighty degrees so as to extend forwardly above said keys, a tracker and a musicsheetwinding roll pivotally mounted at the free end of said bracket for integral movement in an arc of approximately ninety degrees to an operative position above said keys, and flexible pneumatic connections leading from said tracker for controlling the playing mechanism.

14. In a piano, manual keys, a'casing, a bracket pivoted on said casing above said keys for movement in an arc. of approxim ately one hundred and eighty degrees so as to extend forwardly above said keys, a musicsheet-winding roll, atracker and a musicroll support pivotally mounted at the free end of said bracket for integral movement in an arc of approximately ninety degrees to a depending position over said keys, connections on said bracket for rotating said winding-roll and said music-roll support, such connections remaining in engagement inclependently oi? the position. of the parts, and flexible pneumatic connections leading from said tracker for controlling the playing mechanism. Y I

' In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ED VVIN 5. VOTE Y. Witnesses D. C. Harris, W. C. MANSFIELD. 

